There’s only a short time left beforePokemonrolls into its ninth generation. Leading this charge isPokemon ScarletandViolet, a pair of mainline entries that promise to be the most ambition the series has ever seen. This time,Pokemonis committed to implementing open-world gameplay after experimenting with larger play spaces in its past couple entries. On top of that,Pokemon ScarletandVioletare allowing multiple players to explore the same world together, and there will be three story paths for trainers to follow at their leisure.
These games wouldn’t be where they are without plenty of past titles to build on. Chief among these are their immediate predecessors,Pokemon SwordandShieldandPokemon Legends: Arceus. The through line of mainlinePokemon’s jump to Switchfor the first time is the Wild Area. There are several other details thatScarletandVioletowe to these past games, especiallyPokemon Legends. Even asScarletandVioletiterates on things likeSwordandShield’s Max Raid Battles,Pokemon Legendsappears to be the necessary step for Generation 9 to reach its potential.
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Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s Open World Is Built on Legends’
The expansion of the Wild Area into a true open world can be seen across the Nintendo SwitchPokemontitles.Pokemon SwordandShieldfirst implemented the idea, but many thought it fell short. The Wild Area in Galar is simply a giant field with branches leading to more traditional routes on all sides. TheIsle of Armor and Crown Tundra DLC expansionsshowed clear improvement, both taking place in their own Wild Areas. This would grow into the massive, sprawling environments found inPokemon Legends: Arceus’ areas, but not just in terms of size.
Pokemon Legendscrafted more interesting open environments using plenty of verticality and various Ride Pokemon. There are plenty of things to find in each individual area, even after returning to earlier locales hours in. The only thing left was to bring them all together, which is exactly whatPokemon ScarletandVioletplan to do.Examining the Paldean map, various areas and routes can be picked out at a distance. Even so, many of them feed into one another, and the player is often presented with a choice of paths to take. The Paldea region will be an open experience likePokemonhas never seen before.
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Legends' Sense of Exploration is Maintained in Scarlet and Violet
The wayPokemon Legendswas formatted allowed players to take extended trips outside ofJubilife Village to gather Pokemonand resources for as long as necessary. Players have the tools to manage and heal their Pokemon in the field, as well as craft any items they might need. Because areas are massive and contain a wide variety of Pokemon and secrets to uncover, these trips could be quite long. Pokedex progress checks encourage players to do this exploration constantly to unlock the entirety of a given area.
Presumably,Pokemon ScarletandViolettrainers won’t need to wait for as much of Paldea to unlock. These games are built for prolonged exploration, though with slightly different mechanics in mind. Crafting may not come back, but players will still be able to refuel in the field atgas station-like Pokemon Centers. These checkpoints allow for healing and managing Pokemon, buying items, and using online functionality. With that, players are free to explore all around the region, pursuing story opportunities when they find them and catching tons of Pokemon. In this respect,ScarletandVioletare even more free-form thanPokemon Legends, as that game used linear progression with many progress gates.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Have Plenty of Similarities to Pokemon Legends
There are a variety of other elements inPokemon ScarletandVioletthat take some inspiration fromPokemon Legends, like changing where Pokemon battles can take place. BothLegendsand the Generation 9 games have fights occur in the open world. It’s unclear how Poke Ball throwing works inScarletandViolet, butLegends' special long-range Poke Ballsfor attracting or catching flying Pokemon could make a return.ScarletandVioletdoallow for permanent follower Pokemon, while their equivalent inPokemon Legendsamounts to Pokemon being thrown near objects for context-sensitive actions.
Other similarities betweenPokemon Legends: ArceusandPokemon ScarletandVioletremain to be seen, with leaks proposing everything from time travel to a new form of boss Pokemon. One last point of interest seems to be rising above the rest, however. For its many choke points,Pokemon Legendsstill asked players to do something completely divorced from the normal Gym Challenge.ScarletandViolethave brought gyms back, but they allow players to focus on unrelated tasks to progress.
Fans can only speculate what the tworemaining story paths inPokemon ScarletandVioletare, but they likely involve emphasized exploration and plot elements. Going down these paths could feel more like the narrative-drivenPokemon Legends: Arceusthan a normalPokemongame. The prospects ofPokemon’s different ideas for console entries finally crystallizing inScarletandVioletare exciting, and hopefully they do their predecessors justice once players are let loose into the Paldea region.
Pokemon ScarletandVioletrelease on Jun 03, 2025, for Nintendo Switch.
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